SRCD Federal Policy Fellow Professional Portfolio Abstracts: Alayna Schreier, Ph.D.
Introduction: This portfolio provides an overview of the work that I have contributed at ASPE during the 2020-2021 Fellowship Year. Portfolio entries include three systems-level policy and research activities, and one broad set of dissemination activities.
Portfolio Entry 1: National Strategy on Trauma-Informed Care Operating Plan
Project Overview:
Background: In 2018, Congress passed the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act, which is a comprehensive piece of legislation devoted to combatting substance use and the opioid epidemic. The SUPPORT Act includes a bipartisan commitment to supporting children and families who experience trauma and adverse childhood experiences, including trauma from substance misuse. The law has a provision to establish the Interagency Task Force on Trauma-Informed Care, chaired by SAMHSA. The Task Force is charged with identifying, evaluating, and making recommendations regarding (1) best practices with respect to children and families who have experienced trauma or are at risk of experiencing trauma; and (2) ways federal agencies can better coordinate responses to families affected by substance use disorders and trauma. The Task Force is required to submit an Operating Plan for how they would achieve these goals.
Goal(s): To develop a National Trauma Strategy Operating Plan to achieve the goals as set forth in the National Trauma Strategy as required by the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act.
Contributions of Fellow:
- In collaboration with SAMHSA,
- Provided intellectual leadership to the planning and development of the National Trauma Strategy Operating Plan.
- Facilitated meetings of the Interagency Task Force on Trauma-Informed Care to solicit feedback and achieve consensus from participating Executive Branch agency representatives on Operating Plan activities.
- Drafted the National Strategy Operating Plan.
Activity Focus Keywords: Cross-Agency Collaboration, Strategic Plan, Written Report
Policy Area Keywords: Trauma-Informed Care
Portfolio Entry 2: Research and Policy Project: Early Childhood Alignment, Coordination, and Equity
Project Overview:
Background: The Early Childhood Health & Well-being Leadership group is convened by ECD and comprised of senior political and career leadership from a variety of early childhood offices across the federal government. This group agreed on a shared goal: to improve the collective impact of early childhood federal programs by supporting integrated early childhood systems that improve the effectiveness and efficiency of services and result in equitable health and well-being for young children and their families. This project is an initial review of the statutory and regulatory requirements for program eligibility, needs assessments, outcomes and performance measures, well-being metrics, and equity across early childhood federal programs, and is intended to provide guidance for program coordination and alignment to improve the collective impact of early childhood programs.
Goal(s): To improve the collective impact of early childhood federal programs through coordination and alignment of program eligibility, needs assessments, outcomes and performance measures, well-being metrics, and equity.
Contributions of Fellow:
- Co-led a subgroup of federal staff focused on coordination and alignment of Needs Assessments.
- Developed a statement of work for this external research project.
- Managed the contract for this external research project, in collaboration with the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
- Reviewed draft deliverables (for internal audiences only).
Activity Focus Keywords: Cross-Agency Collaboration, Document Review, Needs Assessment, Policy Analysis
Policy Area Keywords: Early Childhood Systems, Statute and Regulation, Coordination, Alignment, and Equity
Portfolio Entry 3: Policy Brief: Child and Adolescent Health and COVID-19
Project Overview:
Background: In January 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order on the Reopening and Continuing Operation of Schools and Early Childhood Education Providers, which identified the need for “trauma-informed care, and behavioral and mental health support” for younger children, and the “promotion of mental health and social-emotional well-being” as schools and other educational institutions reopen. This project, a collaborative effort between ASPE’s Office of Human Services Policy and Office of Behavioral Health, Disability, and Aging Policy, analyzed national data to inform school and ECE reopening efforts in support of children’s mental health.
Goal(s): To analyze data on children’s mental health following COVID-19 to inform school and ECE reopening efforts.
Contributions of Fellow:
- Collaborated with the ASPE Office of Behavioral Health, Disability, and Aging Policy (BHDAP).
- Used national administrative data sources to answer key policy questions about children’s mental health related to school and ECE provider re-opening.
- Drafted the policy brief, in collaboration with BHDAP.
- Edited the policy brief in response to ASPE leadership feedback.
- Reviewed draft deliverables (for internal audiences only).
Activity Focus Keywords: Data Analysis, Disseminate Findings
Policy Area Keywords: Mental Health, COVID-19, Early Childhood Education, K-12 Schools
Portfolio Entry 4: Office of Human Services Policy (HSP) Dissemination Team
Project Overview:
Background: The ASPE Office of Human Services Policy (HSP) Dissemination Team leads efforts to disseminate HSP’s work to federal and non-federal stakeholders. Each year, the HSP Dissemination Team plans for how to best build and expand on past work by identifying short-term and medium-term goals, including potential new or innovative next steps.
Goal(s): To lead HSP’s efforts to enhance and expand dissemination to federal and non-federal stakeholders.
Contributions of Fellow:
- Served as HSP Dissemination Team lead in 2021.
- Facilitated HSP and ASPE-wide discussions around dissemination strategies and resource sharing.
- Served as a key stakeholder for ASPE’s website redesign and led redesign efforts for HSP specific sub-sites.
- Drafted Tweets to disseminate HSP work.
- Analyzed website analytics to understand and inform dissemination strategies.
Activity Focus Keywords: Disseminate Findings
Policy Area Keywords: Human Services Policy